Joe and Tina Kennedy designed their wine bar to feel like people were drinking in the most comfortable part of their house – big leather chairs; beautiful art on the walls; soft, natural lighting. Now imagine that cozy locale with more than a thousand bottles from 200 local, domestic, and international wineries at their fingertips.
The Coravin system allows them to keep 40 bottles open, which gives shoppers the chance to taste through themed flights. Driven by the couple’s experience working in Washington wineries and their own tastes, the selection here doesn’t veer specifically toward one thing or another: what ties them all together is simply that the Kennedy’s have tasted and seen fit to sell them.
And, beyond that, they can discuss them. Joe’s enthusiasm for various sips carry the room and give the space a community feel (something extended even further by the occasional live music sessions), and his recommendations help drinkers find the exact right pour for them, personally.
The food menu, unlike the wine one, is quite small, but hews to the theme of drinking in someone’s living room: simple, well-curated snack platters, like mixed olives, salted nuts, a hummus tray, or a variety of charcuterie plates. It’s nothing you couldn’t put together on short notice before guests arrived for an evening of wine, but that’s sort of the point of this spot: an informal, welcoming place to gather, drink, and chat about wine.
And it gets even more inviting during happy hour (3-6pm), when the small meat and cheese plate falls from $15 to just $5, and the selection of draft local beer and all glass pours are $1 off.
Barrels Wine Bar is located at 7605 27th St, Mercer Island, WA. Learn more at barrelswinebar.com.
Written by Naomi Tomky
